Alvaschein The first mention of the municipality came in 1154, on the occasion of the construction of nunnery named Alvasinis. It became subordinate to the Princes-Bishop of Chur in 1282. In 1367, it belonged to the municipality of Gotteshausband. The inhabitants finally bought their freedom from the Princes-Bishop in 1732. Nearly the whole community was destroyed in a fire in 1745. It has been the seat of the district of the same name since 1851.
Mon Mon is first mentioned around 1001-1200 as
de Maune. In 1281, it was mentioned as
Mans. Until 1943, Mon was known as Mons.
Stierva Stierva is first mentioned in 841
Seturiuo. Until 1943, Stierva was known as Stürvis.
Alvaneu Alvaneu is first mentioned in 1244 as
Aluenude. In 1530, it was mentioned as
Allweneü. On 20 March 2007,
Peter Martin Wettler, a media expert and resident of
Zurich was appointed
Prince of Belfort by the village's authorities. He was to serve for one year with a mandate to improve tourism and the local economy.
Brienz/Brinzauls Brienz/Brinzauls is first mentioned around 840 as
Brienzola. By the 12th century, the village was an economic center for the
Bishop of Chur. The Lords of Brienz were first mentioned as the owners of a fortified tower in the village in 1259. In 1526, it separated from the
parish of
Lantsch/Lenz to become a parish. In 1725, Surava separated from Brienz/Brinzauls to form its own parish. At that time, the population of the village was less than 100 residents. The entire village sits upon a layer of saturated soft-rock permeated by
glacial melt from the mountains above. The growth of and consequential increase in pressure on the water deposit below has led the 150-meter thick layer above to slide southwards at a rate of roughly 1.5 meters annually. Simon Löw, emeritus professor of Engineering Geology at
ETH Zurich, disputed a link to climate change, citing the lack of thawing permafrost and any correlation between annual rainfall and the speed at which the slope slides. On the night of 15 and 16 June, a major rockfall occurred, stopping short of the village. Municipal officials ended the evacuation of the village on 3 July, while emphasizing that future evacuations could remain necessary. In 2024, the movement of an additional 1.2 million cubic meters of rock was detected. It was thought that the relatively slow movement of the rock mass could give villagers additional time, in the range of several months, but a sudden collapse, like that of 2023, was not ruled out; such an event would give no time for the inhabitants of the village to flee. Efforts were made in 2024 to reduce pressure on the deposit prior to its eventual collapse. Civil engineers sought to drain the meltwater deposit by tunneling underneath both layers and the mountain above. A new evacuation for the village's 91 residents, as well as their pets and livestock, was ordered to be carried out by November 17 at the latest. Personal belongings and the
retable of the village's 500 year old church were transported out of the village as well. Since then, access to the village and its immediate environs has been prohibited, and it has been classified as a "
red zone" by cantonal authorities. Although the 2023 evacuation lasted only 51 days, this one is expected to last far longer, and may possibly be permanent. Even if, in the future, the village is deemed safe for public access, funds will be available for those who do not feel comfortable in their return. ==Geography==